Skyhold, Day 26, 30 Cloudreach, 9:41

I awoke to Dorian having nightmares again. Maybe it's not just for my sake he chooses to share a bed. I woke him, and he curled into a ball on his side. From the bathroom I got a wet washcloth, because the man was soaked and shaking, and had sweat the sheets through as well. I warmed it just a bit, and warmed the room, because despite the sweat, his skin was icy. I wiped the back of his neck and his shoulders.

"Do you want to talk?"

"No."

"Would it help?"

"It feels like something's coming. It's approaching. I don't know what." I almost dropped the washcloth.

"Dorian, are you heading out with Sam after Summerday?"

"The Inquisitor asked me, yes."

"Hmmm. And did he say where you were going?" I wiped his face.

He looked at me. "Hinterlands, Redcliffe, Crestwood."

"You come back to us safely, okay? Some of us love you for who you are, no strings attached. I shall be quite cross if I have to search the fade for your shade in order to kick your ass."

"I don't doubt you would do exactly that, my dove."

"Let's get fresh sheets on this bed, unless we are done sleeping for the night?"

"Why do your words sound heavy, like they have portent."

"I've never weighed my words. I don't know if some are heavier than others."

"Solas is right, you are evasive. You sounded like Cole, just now."

"Cole doesn't evade. We just don't understand him sometimes. Who else is going?"

"Varric, Bull, Sera, Blackwall, Vivienne."

"Talk to The Iron Bull if you need someone. He'll listen, and probably know what to do. We can trust him that far right now."

"What do you mean?"

"That decision hasn't been made, love. I don't know yet."

"I forgot. I'm sorry."

"When you get back, would you teach me the housekeeping spells?"

"Housekeeping?"

"Like what you did with the papers. The how, the why, and all that for those sorts of every day things."

"I will attempt to teach you anything you like. We'd have to start at basics, Dove. Every step must be… Why are you smiling like that?"

"Because I've heard this lecture. Every step must be mastered to your satisfaction. I must understand and be able to explain in satisfactory fashion all the intermediary steps. It won't be overly fun or pretty or exciting. You and Solas are twin princes. Now if you will remove yourself from my bed temporarily, and let me take care of the sheets, I'd be delighted." I handed him the washcloth, and stripped the bed, changing the sheets with the spare kept in the bathroom.

"I'm not sure I appreciate being called a twin prince."

"Don't wish to share the attention, Peacock?"

"I wondered if you'd do that. I couldn't be sure if you knew."

"How could I not? I was just being polite. But I thought it might make you smile, especially when you are looking comparatively terrible. I thought it fitting when you call me Dove."

"At the Temple, you called me Dorian Gray. It stuck in my head. Then as we were putting Skyhold together, a pretty turtledove roosted on the tent above your head. It was a lovely shade of bluish gray. After that, I associated you with doves. It seemed to fit. Dorian and his gray dove."

I finished making the bed again. "Are we waking or sleeping?"

"Perhaps we could both prowl the battlements tonight. I won't be able to sleep yet."

"Of course." So we prowled the battlements as he suggested. After an hour of pacing and talking about inconsequential things, I got us back to bed.

The second waking, at a decent time of the morning, was better. I dragged Dorian to the tavern, cancelling our breakfast with Cook along the way. The Chargers weren't about, but Bull was.

"Dorian, have you officially met The Iron Bull?"

"I have. We were all introduced to each other."

"Excellent." I dragged him over to sit at Bull's table. "Heya, The Iron Bull."

"Not mad at me, Chrissy?"

"No. If I'm not going to be mad at Dorian, I have no business being mad at you. How have you been?"

He eyed me. "You're acting weird. You want something."

"Yes, actually. I've got a bad feeling again. I don't know anything for sure, but I thought I might ask something of you."

"What is it?"

"Do you mind if I ask you in private?"

"Come on."

"Be right back, Dorian. Sing out if our food is ready." Bull led me over to his area, where his people gather. Lisa smiled at me, and I smiled back. A few others made friendly gestures, which I also returned.

"Alright, Chrissy. Out with it."

"I think Dorian's going to need a friend after you guys hit Redcliffe. I don't know for sure, but I have this feeling."

"Like your feeling about Haven?"

"Not exactly like that. This would be far more personal. I don't think there's any bloodshed. Heart wounds, soul wounds. And I can't be there."

"I see. That's what you wanted? That's all?"

I looked at him. I had no idea what he was on about. "Yes. Did I drop a thread somewhere? I did something to offend, didn't I. I'm so sorry. Just tell me what…"

"That's not it. I guess I should have expected you only to come if someone needed you."

"I'm not visiting enough? I've been taking it slow. Lisa's gradually becoming used to me, and even Dalish isn't scowling at me so much. I just stop in and say hello on my rounds. Usually you're *ahem* otherwise occupied when I drop by. Should I interrupt?"

"So that's why. I figured you were avoiding me, and then with that Zathras kid, you might have gotten upset. You'll break that one, you know."

"Yeah, but he'd like it."

"Would you?"

"So will you look after Dorian for me?"

"His mental well-being will be important for the mission's success. I would have done it anyway. But I'll do it for you, too."

"Thanks, The Iron Bull." I hugged him and went back to Dorian.

"What was that about?"

"The trip. I needed to tell more than just you about my feeling. You're amazing, love, but he hits a lot harder. He'll keep an eye out as well." And we ate.

Since we were decorating the castle today, I may have gotten a little bit of work done. Mostly "move that a little to the left" and the like. No lifting, carrying, or otherwise laboring. I picked up one garland of flowers. (Imported flowers, because we hadn't gotten any frickin' rain, despite the clouds.) And probably twenty voices yelled at me. Grr.

After lunch, I decided to brave the wolf in his den. I really needed to ask about the weather and that spell. He was where I expected him to be. It seemed odd to be seeking him out. I think it was the second time other than my apology. I leaned against the wall. He gets this intensity when he's studying, more than when he's reading. "I see you there."

"I'm glad your eyes work?"

"You want to know about that spell."

"That's one of the two reasons I'm here, yes."

"I'd expected you to bother me about it."

"Why? You said you would look into it. I believed you. Interrupting you would only extend the timeframe it took to do so."

"Interesting. That you'd trust that far."

"In those matters, I have trust, yes. You wouldn't pervert the craft."

"What's the other reason?"

"Does it ever precipitate here? In the month we've been here, there's been not a drop of rain, sleet, snow, or hail. The farmers have to irrigate exclusively, which limits production."

"That sounds like work."

That earned him a glare. "I'm just asking about the weather."

"It precipitates."

"It's not going to do so tomorrow, I hope."

"I don't imagine so. Why are you talking to me about this?"

"Because I'm not completely stupid. You're the one who likes old ruins, after all. And you led us here."

"History will say the Herald of Andraste led us here."

"Yeah, well, history is written by the winning side, in such a way as to support their causes and beliefs. I should go. Thank you for your answers."

"You don't want to know about the spell?"

"I can't do the spell. Perhaps you can, if you've found one, but I can't take a chance on doing something new right now."

"May I look?"

"At least this time you ask. Yes. But leave my threads alone. I'm not going to discuss those with you."

I felt that cooling blue over the achy place. "You said you sprained it?"

"That's the best way I could describe it. Talking the obsidian into moving up was not so easy, I guess." He looked at me oddly. "What?"

"I have the spell you requested. You could handle the complexity, I believe, but it would hurt you. I will keep an eye out, if you wish. Your connection to the fade was strained or stretched. Bent oddly, is how I would put it. It is healing, nearly healed." He was still looking at me oddly.

"Do I have something on my face?"

"You are not what I expected."

"Pffft. No one is ever what someone else expects. If they are, they're lying to you."

"How very wise."

I watched his eyes. Something was off. "Just the way things are." I took a deep breath. "I am a sociable creature, Solas. I still do not trust you in most matters."

"And it is on those matters where I am not what you expected that you trust?"

"Not necessarily. It is on those matters I watch, and then decide."

"Da'asha."

"Yes?"

"What are you going to do when Dorian is gone?"

"Haunt the battlements, I suppose."

"I could help."

"I don't trust you in the fade." My voice may have been a little flat.

"Let me know if you change your mind. You are safe from me, whatever you think."

"I think that you are the most dangerous person in Skyhold, because you are a dreamwalker among other reasons, and have fooled them all into thinking you are mild-mannered and meek. None of us is safe from you unless you wish it. One doesn't have to be a mage to succumb to demons, and some people just never wake up."

He didn't argue that. "For now, at least, I have no interest in opposing you in any way."

"I hear your words. I do, truly."

He sighed and shook his head. "Have a good evening, Chrysopal. Keeper of Skyhold."

"I don't hate you. I don't even dislike you. You are just different from the others."

"At least there is that." He looked unhappy for a moment before his face smoothed.

I sighed on the inside. I didn't like making him unhappy. "It's not hug day, but I could make an exception."

"It should have been two days ago."

I was surprised. "You were keeping track?" He shrugged. I walked up to him. "Would you like a hug, Solas?"

He slid his arms around my shoulders and carefully tightened, not too much. I reached around his waist. "You have no idea what you might represent. To everyone you are something different," he rumbled under my ear. "I've not seen a mage do things the way you do in a long time."

"I'm just me."

"That's what Cole says, too. You're just you." As soon as I made a slight movement away, he released me.

"Good evening." And I left.

Dinner, Singalong. I brought out Once Upon a December again. It's a lovely song, and it resonates with the adults. Things they can almost remember haunt them. Tomorrow is Summerday. You know, Solas is confusing as hell, but I'm starting to think he's lonely. He's the only really real person around, to his mind, and he's walking through a world of shadows. And he's got me melancholy. I tucked in the Tweedles, Laura, and Daniel. Stephen is officially moved to the barracks, because he wants to be and convinced enough soldiers. He's happy to be a page. They'll pry Daniel from my cold, dead hands. The Tweedles, too. I bid everyone goodnight, as usual, and Dorian met me at my room.